I myself will fight against you with an outstretched hand and a mighty arm in furious anger and in great wrath. – Jeremiah 21:5

Today's Scripture Reading (May 20, 2020): Jeremiah 21

As the Assyrian army gathered around Jerusalem, Hezekiah sent for a trusted advisor, Isaiah. Isaiah was a prophet of Israel, but he seemed to have an intimate relationship with the King. In my imagination, I can see the King walking the walls of Jerusalem, looking out over the vast Assyrian army that had gathered its might against the city, with Isaiah marching at his side.

But on this day, Hezekiah is scared, Sennacherib, the leader of the Assyrians, had openly spoken to the people of Jerusalem, telling them that Hezekiah is lying to them. There is no hope for salvation. The only possibility for the people of Jerusalem to escape the coming trial is to walk out the front gates and surrender their fates to the attacking Assyrians. Hezekiah fears that the people will listen and leave the city. But he is more scared that Sennacherib is right; that there is no hope for Judah's capital city.

And so, Hezekiah sends his servants to go and find Isaiah. How is it that the prophet of Israel is responding? Surely, he has heard the message of Sennacherib. He must be feeling something as he hears the Assyrian voice his threats against the city.

The servants find Isaiah and pose the King's question to the man of God. And Isaiah responds.

Isaiah said to them, "Tell your master, 'This is what the Lord says: Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the King of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! When he hears a certain report, I will make him want to return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with the sword'" (2 Kings 19:6-7).

More than a century later, another King of Judah knows well the story of Hezekiah and Isaiah. And so, King Zedekiah sends for his prophet, Jeremiah, and hopes that the assurance of Isaiah to King Hezekiah, as that King led the city against the Assyrians, still holds as Zedekiah leads Jerusalem against the Babylonians. He wants Jeremiah to tell him that one day the Babylonians are going to disappear, in the same way that the Assyrians disappeared during the days of Hezekiah.

But Zedekiah receives a very different response from his prophet. Jeremiah tells Zedekiah that not only are the Babylonians here to stay but that God has personally taken up the campaign against Jerusalem. The sins of the city had finally crossed a line where God had decided that the future needed to take a different turn. It was not Nebuchadnezzar who was attacking the city; it was God. And as a result, there was a reason for Zedekiah to be very afraid.

Tomorrow's Scripture Reading: Jeremiah 22

Personal Note: Happy Birthday to my daughter-in-law, Michelle.